Improvement in hernial trusses



D. E. BANKS 821T. MIMER'GK. Hernial-Truss.

' No. 204,281. 1 Patented May 28,1878.

. INJE 'J U N. PETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D. 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUNSTAN E. BANKS AND THOMAS M. MERGK, OF GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HERN'IAL TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,281, dated May 28,1878; application filed March 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DUNSTAN E. BANKS and THOMAS M. MERCK, of Gainesville, in the county of Hall, and in the State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hernial Trusses; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which are shown, in perspective, our improvements.

Our invention is an improvement upon a truss invented by Thomas M. Merck, for which Letters Patent No. 177,535 were issued May 16, 1876; and it consists in the construction of the spring frame or support of the pad, which has a rigid lateral connection with the belt, and is arranged at a right angle to the same, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In' the annexed drawing, A represents a semi-spherical pad, constructed preferably of wood, that is secured, upon the outer face, at the end of one arm or fork, b, of a V-shaped spring, B, which spring is flat, and at its ends has a width of about one inch, and from thence to its doubled central portion increases somewhat in width.

At each side of the fork b, near its lower end, is secured a buck1e,G, to which buckles are connected opposite ends of a belt, D, While a third buckle, E, is attached to the end of said fork, and receives one end of a strap, F, which from thence passes downward, rearward, and upward, and has its opposite end connected to or with said belt by means of a buckle, G, two of which are attached to the outer side of the latter.

A fourth buckle,-H, attached to the doubled upper end b of the spring B, is intended for the reception of one end of a strap, which from thence passes upward, rearward, and downward, and has its opposite end connected with the buckle Gr at the rear side of the belt D. a

A flat spring, B, attached to the inner side, near the end of the fork b, and from thence extending in a curve inward and toward the doubled end b, with its free end bearing against the fork b, completes the device, which is employed by securing the belt D around the body of the wearer with the pad A over the rupture, and then passing the strap F between the thighs and connecting its free end with the buckle E. If a vertical support is necessary for the truss, a strap is passed over the shoulder and connected with the buckles G and H.

It will be observed that the buckles G are at one side of the longitudinal center of the belt D. This arrangement is for the purpose of causing the strap F to draw upon the side of the rupture, and the truss may be easily and quickly fitted for either side of the person by disconnecting said strap F and the pad-frame from the belt D, reversing their positions with relation to the same, and again connecting said parts.

The spring-frame B occupies a vertical position when in use, so that the motion of the arm b, in consequence of the movements of the body of the wearer, will not cause the belt to change position, the yield of said spring being the same with reference to each end of said belt.

This arrangement of the pad-frame enables the truss to conform more readily to the positions of its wearer than would be the case 7 were said frame caused to occupy a horizontal position, as in the patent before'named.

In consequence of the laterally-rigid attachment of the pad-holder to the belt the pad is held securely in place, and said belt is prevented from changing position, as would be the case if said pad-holder were connected with said belt by a pivot-joint.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of our invention, what we claim as new In combination with the beltD and strap F, the spring-frame B, b, b, and b, provided with the pad A and buckles 0,1 and H, and arranged with its longest axis in a line having a right angle to said belt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 26th day of February, 18 7 7 D. E. BANKS. THOMAS M. MERCK.

Witnesses D. G. OANDLEn, M. M. SANDERS. 

